Steps to Quality Improvement > Implementation > Community Solutions

A number of solutions are aimed at engaging whole communities in becoming healthier. Some community interventions focus on increasing public awareness of specific health issues through health fairs, screening events, and public health information campaigns that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for certain populations. In 2005, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland launched several community partnerships to reduce disparities in the community, with its Closing the Gaps programs.22. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Innovative Practices in Multicultural Health Care 2006. Available at http://Web.ncqa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=453. October 5, 2007. In its Hair, Heart and Health initiative, the plan recognized that coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death in African Americans. Members in this population have a higher prevalence of CHD risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes. Working with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, CareFirst launched a cardiovascular health education and screening program for African Americans in which outreach workers, barbers and hair stylists were trained to provide heart-healthy education and blood pressure screenings in Baltimore.

Keystone Mercy Health Plan and the Healthy Hoops Coalition created Healthy Hoops, a community-based asthma education basketball program. Using basketball as a platform, Healthy Hoops teaches participants (both children and families) how to manage asthma through appropriate medications, proper nutrition, monitored exercise and recreational activities. The goals of Healthy Hoops are to educate and reinforce asthma management and to provide asthma professional development to school nurses, community nurses, gym and health instructors and coaches.^ibid

Some community solutions are intended to provide better integration between the community being served and the organization. These may include involving community members in planning and evaluating organizational efforts; conducting surveys and focus groups; bringing information to community groups and seeking their feedback; and otherwise going directly to the served community to learn how to meet its needs better. L.A. Care Health Plan consulted extensively with its patients and members when it developed its pediatric weight management program and materials.^ibid Health Alliance Plan worked with major employers in the community, engaged physicians in its network and conducted focus groups with members to determine the barriers women faced in obtaining timely breast cancer screenings.33. Ibid. Innovative Practices in Multicultural Health Care 2007. Available at http://Web.ncqa.org/CLAS.aspx, November 15, 2007.